Radar Poetry is an online journal featuring poetry and visual art, published three times a year, including their annual Coniston Prize issue, which exclusively features the work of women poets. Rachel Marie Patterson and Dara-Lyn Shrager are the founders, curators, and editors of Radar Poetry since its inception in 2013. They are currently open for poetry submissions until January 1, 2022.

For more information, see my interview with editors and a link to submission guidelines below.

UPDATE: Per their site: “As of November 8, 2021 Submissions are closed due to high volume, to allow us to respond timely to all submissions.”

HOPKINSON: How/why was Radar Poetry originally started?

EDITORS: Radar was born over a bottle of Prosecco and an order of General Tso’s tofu in Princeton, New Jersey in 2013. At the dining room table, we began to map the project by instinct, acting on our own wish lists as readers of journals and on our shared vision as editors and poets. (We are fortunate that Rachel is a freelance web designer and could take on the technical aspects of the work.) 

HOPKINSON: Who is your target reader audience?

EDITORS: Anyone and everyone who appreciates poetry and/or visual art.

HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for? 

EDITORS: A phrase we coined early on and still believe today is, “Great poems make everyone sick.” We are looking for work that has that effect on us. We’re looking for the best poetry written today, the kind that keeps you up at night and follows you all day.

HOPKINSON: What do you wish you’d see submitted, but rarely comes in?

EDITORS: After 8 years and thousands of submissions, we feel like we’ve seen just about everything. In other words, what we wish we’d see, we do see, and we’re always looking for more. Surprise us.

HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?

EDITORS: We have many favorites! But we’ll mention just a few. We think SWWIM does a fantastic job not just selecting poems, but promoting their poets through social media. We love the aesthetics of Tinderbox and The Adroit Journal. Poetry Northwest has been around for more than 60 years and continues to publish some of the best poetry from emerging, marginalized, and well-known voices. Sometimes, of course, we like to hold a print issue in our hands; Passages North is one of our go-to’s.

HOPKINSON: What is your favorite part of being on staff with Radar Poetry?

EDITORS: We are and always have been a staff of two women, and we love working together. 

HOPKINSON: Where can we send submissions? 

EDITORS: Visit www.radarpoetry.com/guidelines for the skinny!

HOPKINSON: If someone has a question, how can they contact you? 

EDITORS: Send us an email: radarpoetry (at) gmail (dot) com.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Closed Early

UPDATE: Per their site: “As of November 8, 2021 Submissions are closed due to high volume, to allow us to respond timely to all submissions.”

READING PERIODS:

• Free Reading Period: Nov 1-Jan 1
• “Tip Jar” Reading Period: Mar 1-May 1
• Coniston Prize Reading Period: July 1-Sep 1

FORMS: Poetry

SUBMISSION FEE: None during free reading period

FORMAT: Online

PAYMENT: None for regular submissions 

ISSUE FREQUENCY: 3 per year

AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME: Less than 30 days

SUBMISSION METHOD: Submittable

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Yes

SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

DUOTROPE: https://duotrope.com/listing/13590/radar-poetry

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